Mikeru On Japanese Music Today

In comparison to other alternative-leaning female singers, Kimura Kaela's singing could easily be labeled conventional - and she's all the better for it. She may not be particularly eccentric or edgy (despite some deliberate designs in that direction), but she has a clear and comforting musical style that easily straddles pop and rock. Her voice, soft yet strong, remains in a comfortable mid-high range, steering clear of the strained screeching or wincingly cute high notes that appear all too often in many J-pop albums. It may seem like a simple requirement, but finding a singer who agrees with the ears is not as easy as it sounds. Safe, sweet, and solid, Kimura's third album, Scratch, has an easygoing energy and an earthy selection of songs, most of which were penned by the singer herself.